HOME GUARD

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23102, 19 August 1940, Page 6

HOME GUARD

TOR N.Z. ASSISTING LOCAL DEFENCE NEW ORGANISATION announced (fSSSi wwpguTip* nrioaui.) WELLINGTON, August 17. The formation of an Emergency Reserve Corps, the purpose of which is to assist in the operation and preparation of plans , for the defence of New Zealand in any emergency, is provided for in regulations issued to-day. A prominent feature of this new organ-isation-will be the Home Guard, which will he open to all males of 16 years and over who are not actively attached to any of the forces. The main duties of the Home Guard will be provision of guards, pickets, patrols, sentries, etc., and units for Specialist duties, but it may, if necessary, be incorporated as part of the defence forces of the country. An explanation of the new regulations and also the Emergency Precautions, which were issued to-dcy,.was given by the Minister for National Service (the Hon. R. Semple). “The Emergency Precautions Regulations,” said Mr Semple, “provide the legal authority for the organisation through local authorities of the Emergency Precautions Scheme, which Mr Parry inaugurated some time ago and on which very valuable work has already been undertaken. The scheme was formulated to provide for a Domini on-, wide organisation" for the control in any locality of all essential services in the event of natural disaster or enemy action. The terrible experiences of the Murchison and Hawke’s Bay earthquakes made it clear that a properly-planned scheme should be formulated in each district to meet any emergency that may arise, and thus avoid the natural disorganisation and chaos that may otherwise result. '

Local Authorities “Most local authorities, with great enterprise and foresight, have already prepared efficient emergency precautions schemes, or have them well underway, but any local authority which has not yet prepared a scheme should do so immediately. Under the regulations local authorities who have not prepared an emergency precautions scheme can be required to do so, but this action should be entirely unnecessary when the need for and value of a carefully-planned scheme is fully

appreciated. “As in the case of local body schemes already established, the framework of an emergency precautions scheme will provide for the establishment of various committees and controllers whose functions, in the event of an emergency, will be clearly defined. For example, the local Controller of Supply will be responsible for the provision and distribution of all food, clothing, and other necessaries; the local Controller of Transport for the control and distribution of transport; the local Controller of Medical Services for all first aid, hospital treatment, and public health and sanitation. Provision will also be made for the evacuation of the population',' law and order, and many other important matters which require attention in an emer-

gency. “Cabinet has decided that as Minister for National Service I should take over from Mr Parry the administration of the emergency precautions scheme for the duration of the war. This decision was made because the emergency precautions scheme fornv? merely one Section of the Emergency Reserve Qorps constituted under the Emergency Reserve Corps Regulations and it is most desirable that the func-

tjqns and activities of the emergency precautions scheme should be co-ordin- . ated with the activities of other sec- s tions of the Emergency Reserve Corps. [ *. “The Emergency Reserve Corps haSi,;^ 1 been established for the purpose of assisting in the preparation and- ooer-ffe ation of plans for the defence of Zealand in any emergency, and fofljr, maintaining supplies , and services es--'-‘-, sential to the life of the community.. ,«■- The corps will consist of the Home; Guard, all emergency precautions ganisations. without in any way alter* ing their present form of organisation. by the-local bodies, the Women’s War - u. Service Auxiliary, and such other or- ■.?; ganisations as may from time to Umpi -■< < be deemed part of the corps. The Women’s War Service Auxiliary,].‘l which has already been established,is a Dominion-wide organisation set j?*up for the purpose of directing and* 4 co-ordinating the war activities of9lfcs existing women’s organisations.! TbwJ-’®"*' body, which is already doing veW-jj-’ good work, will shortly be setting ' committees in all the main centres, ■

Semi-Military Body 4^5 Home Guard is the name to a semi-military body, which •1* shortly to be established in consults";';; ;■ tiorj and co-operation, with local hodiM .r., in all parts of the Dominion. , command of the Home Guard will b8; v; under the direction of a. Dominion: commander, and there will be''BP»: pointed three district commapdert Cfflfv ■ responding with the three miptary. commands, and also a number pi area - , and group commanders, all of whom. will co-operate with the local body , , committees, Membership of the HoiUg, .1 Guard will be open to all males of 19- c years or over who are not actively at*. tached to any of His Majesty’s Forces, “The main function of the Home' Guard will be physical and military training, the provision of guards, . , pickets, patrols, sentries, etc., and- -r units for specialist duties. _ ... “The Home Guard will be available to co-operate with any of His Majesty's Forces in the defence of New ; ' Zealand, and in the event of enemy ; , action or the threat of enemy action . may, by proclamation, actually be ip* corporated as part of the defence , forces of the country. : .v “In conjunction with my associate, the Hon. D. Wilson, I propose at an, Ji: early date to visit all of the main : centres in New Zealand to discuss - with local authorities the establish- ‘' r ment of committees in their areas for the purpose of enrolling persons ad.,.- 1 members of the Home Guard. . >£ “I feel confident,” said Mr Semple, “that there is no need for me to make •. a any appeal for physically fit men to • join up with the Home Guard when . , it is established in their districts. It , ■ ■ is already abundantly evident that there are thousands of people in New - ■ Zealand who have only been awaiting ;‘ a lead of this nature to enable them to take some more active part in thS . war effort.”